NT2LP, NOVEL G-PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTORS HAVING HOMOLOGY TO NEUROTENSIN-2 RECEPTORS

摘要

The present invention is based on the identification of a novel G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that is expressed predominantly in the brain and nucleic acid molecules that encoded the GPCR, referred to herein as the NT2LP protein and NT2LP gene respectively. The NT2LP protein has high sequence homology to the NT family of receptors, particularly members of the NT2 subfamily. Based on this identification, the present invention provides: 1) isolated NT2LP protein, 2) isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode a NT2LP protein, 3) antibodies that selectively bind to the NT2LP protein, 4) methods of isolating allelic variants of the NT2LP protein and gene, 5) methods of identifying cells and tissues that express the NT2LP protein/gene, 6) methods of identifying agents and cellular compounds that bind to the NT2LP protein, 7) methods of identifying agents that modulate the expression of the NT2LP gene, 8) methods of modulating the activity of the NT2LP protein in a cell or organism and 9) a method for treating diseases, pathologies, or biological processes, for example, pain, comprising administering an agent that binds to and/or modulates NT2LP proteins.